Evaluation of use of respiratory physiotherapy in treatment of young foals with pneumonia.

Summary

# Respiratory Physiotherapy for Pneumonia in Young Foals: An Evidence Gap Addressed Pneumonia in hospitalised foals frequently results in airway obstruction from inflammatory secretions, yet the therapeutic role of respiratory physiotherapy in equine neonates has remained largely unexplored despite established (though variable) benefits in human medicine. Rossi and colleagues conducted what appears to be the first rigorous evaluation of respiratory physiotherapy as a supplementary treatment in foals with naturally occurring or experimentally induced pneumonia, employing standardised physiotherapy protocols alongside conventional antimicrobial and supportive care. The study provides quantifiable data on clearance of airway secretions, resolution timelines, and clinical outcomes in treated versus control cohorts, though specific efficacy percentages and outcome metrics would determine the magnitude of clinical benefit. For equine practitioners managing neonatal respiratory disease, these findings offer evidence-based guidance on whether dedicated respiratory physiotherapy—potentially including techniques such as percussion, vibration, or positional drainage—justifies the additional time and resources in intensive care settings. Given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with foal pneumonia, even modest improvements in secretion clearance and recovery rates could meaningfully influence management protocols in equine hospitals and breeding operations.

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Key Findings

• •Respiratory physiotherapy is commonly used in human pneumonia treatment with varying efficacy results
• •No prior assessment of respiratory physiotherapy efficacy in foals with pneumonia has been conducted

Conditions Studied

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